Display driving circuit with photo detecting input

ABSTRACT

A display driving circuit with photo detecting input includes pixel regions, pixel electrodes, gate lines, data lines, at least one photo detecting unit and at least one readout line. The gate lines cross the data lines. The data lines include a first data line and a second data line disposed adjacently to each other. There is no data line disposed between the first data line and the second data line. The photo detecting unit is electrically connected to one of the gate lines. The readout line is electrically connected to the photo detecting unit and disposed between the first data line and the second data line. A first spacing between first data line and the readout line is wider than or equal to a second spacing between the second data line and the readout line, and the first spacing is smaller than or equal to triple the second spacing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/728,242, filed Nov. 20, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a display driving circuit, and more particularly, to a display driving circuit with photo detecting input.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years, touch sensing technologies have developed flourishingly, and electronic products, such as mobile phones, tablet PCs, GPS navigator systems, laptop PCs, and desktop PCs, which have both the touch sensing function and the display function, are commercialized accordingly. In the electronic products mentioned above, display regions of touch panels are mainly equipped with touch sensing functions. In other words, the display panels are replaced by the touch display panels. According to differences in structure designs, the touch display panels may include an out-cell type touch display panel, an in-cell type touch display panel, and an on-cell type touch display panel. In the out-cell type touch display panel, an independent touch panel is attached to a normal display panel. In the in-cell type touch display panel and the on-cell type touch display panel, touch sensing devices are disposed directly on an inner surface or an outer surface of a substrate in the display panel. For example, the touch sensing devices may be disposed on a color filter substrate or a thin film transistor array substrate of the traditional display panel so as to form the in-cell type touch display panel.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional display driving circuit 100 with photo detecting input. The display driving circuit 100 is generally disposed on an array substrate. The display driving circuit 100 includes photo detecting units 140, corresponding readout lines 130 and other general components of display driving circuits such as display switching devices 160, gate lines 110 and data lines 120 crossing the gate lines 110. The photo detecting units 140 are employed to perform touch sensing functions, and the readout lines 130 are used to transmit photo detecting signals. In the conventional design, the readout line 130 is disposed adjacently to one of the data lines 120 and substantially parallel to the data lines 120. The photo detecting signals transmitted by the readout lines 130 tend to be interfered by display signals transmitted via the data lines 120. Calculations and judgment about the photo detecting signals may be influenced accordingly, the signal processing may become more complicated, and the processing loading of the related integrated circuits may be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objectives of the present invention to provide a display driving circuit with photo detecting input. Positions of readout lines are modified to increase a distance between the readout line and a data line. The interference problem between the readout line and the data line may be improved, and purposes of enhancing accuracy of photo detecting signal judgment and lowering the processing loading of the related integrated circuits may be achieved accordingly.

To achieve the purposes described above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a display driving circuit with photo detecting input. The display driving circuit includes a plurality of pixel regions, a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, at least one photo detecting unit and at least one readout line. The pixel regions are arranged in a matrix configuration. The pixel electrodes are disposed in the pixel regions respectively. The gate lines extend along a first direction and are disposed parallel to one another. The data lines extend along a second direction and are disposed parallel to one another. The gate lines cross the data lines. The data lines include a first data line and a second data line disposed adjacently to each other, and none of the data lines is disposed between the first data line and the second data line. The photo detecting unit is disposed in at least one of the pixel regions, and the photo detecting unit is electrically connected to one of the gate lines. The readout line is electrically connected to the photo detecting unit. The readout line is disposed between the first data line and the second data line. A first spacing between the first data line and the readout line is wider than or equal to a second spacing between the second data line and the readout line, and the first spacing is smaller than or equal to triple the second spacing.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional display driving circuit with photo detecting input.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the display driving circuit in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the display driving circuit in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will understand, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the term “include” is used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ” In addition, the phrase “electrically connected to” or “structurally connected to” in this document includes direct or indirect connection approaches. Therefore, “a first device is connected to the second device” in this document means that “the first device is directly connected to the second device” or “the first device is connected to the second device via other devices or indirectly connected to the second device by other approaches”.

Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Please note that the figures are only for illustration and the figures may not be to scale. The scale may be further modified according to different design considerations. As shown in FIG. 2, a display driving circuit 200 with photo detecting input is provided in this embodiment. The display driving circuit 200 includes a plurality of pixel regions PX, a plurality of pixel electrodes PE, a plurality of gate lines GL, a plurality of data lines DL, at least one photo detecting unit 220 and at least one readout line RL. The pixel regions PX are arranged in a matrix configuration. The pixel electrodes PE are disposed in the pixel regions PX respectively. The gate lines GL extend along a first direction X and are disposed parallel to one another. The data lines DL extend along a second direction Y and are disposed parallel to one another. The gate lines GL cross the data lines DL. In this embodiment, the first direction X is perpendicular to the second direction Y preferably, but not limited thereto. In addition, the pixel regions PX arranged in a matrix configuration are substantially defined by the crossed gate lines GL and data lines DL preferably, but not limited thereto. The data lines DL include a first data line DL1 and a second data line DL2 disposed adjacently to each other, and none of the data lines DL is disposed between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2. The photo detecting unit 220 is disposed in at least one of the pixel regions PX, and the photo detecting unit 220 is electrically connected to one of the gate lines GL. The readout line RL is electrically connected to the photo detecting unit 220 so as to receive and transmit signals generated by the photo detecting unit 220 for calculating photo sensing results. The photo detecting unit 220 in the present invention may include at least one photo sensing device such as a photo sensing transistor preferably, but not limited thereto. It is worth noting that the photo detecting unit 220 in the present invention may simply be used as an ambient light sensor for detecting conditions and variations of ambient light, and the display driving circuit 200 may also include a plurality of photo detecting units 220 disposed and arranged in a specific manner for performing touch point positioning functions or image array functions.

In this embodiment, the readout line RL is disposed between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2. The readout line RL is parallel to the data lines DL preferably. In other words, the readout line RL is substantially perpendicular to the gate lines GL preferably, but not limited thereto. A first spacing D1 between the first data line DL1 and the readout line RL is preferably wider than or equal to a second spacing D2 between the second data line DL2 and the readout line RL, and the first spacing D1 is smaller than or equal to triple the second spacing D2. Preferably, the first spacing D1 is smaller than or equal to double the second spacing D2, but not limited thereto. In other words, a distance between two adjacent data lines DL may be regarded as a width of each pixel region PX along the first direction X, a distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is wider than or equal to a quarter of the width of each pixel region PX along the first direction X, and the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is smaller than or equal to three quarters of the width of each pixel region PX along the first direction X. Preferably, the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is wider than or equal to one third of the width of each pixel region PX along the first direction X, and the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is smaller than or equal to two thirds of the width of each pixel region PX along the first direction X, but not limited thereto. According to the above method of modifying the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL, signal interference between the readout line RL and the data lines DL may be reduced, the accuracy of judging signals generated by the photo detecting unit 220 may be enhanced, and the processing loading of the related integrated circuits may be lowered. It is worth noting that, as shown in FIG. 2, the first spacing D1 may be equal to the second spacing D2 preferably so as to equalize the influences between the readout line RL and the two adjacent data lines DL, but not limited thereto. Additionally, the readout line RL at least partially overlaps the pixel electrodes PE along a vertical projective direction Z. The vertical projective direction Z is substantially perpendicular to the first direction X and the second direction Y preferably, but not limited thereto.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the display driving circuit 200 with the photo detecting input in this embodiment may further include a plurality of display switching devices 210 disposed in the pixel regions PX respectively. Each of the display switching devices 210 is electrically connected to one of the gate lines GL, one of the data lines DL and one of the pixel electrodes PE. In this embodiment, the pixel regions PX may include a first pixel region PX1, a second pixel region PX2 and a third pixel region PX3 aligned alternately along the first direction X. The pixel electrodes PE may include a first pixel electrode PE1, a second pixel electrode PE2 and a third pixel electrode PE3. The first pixel electrode PE1, the second pixel electrode PE2 and the third pixel electrode PE3 are disposed in the first pixel region PX1, the second pixel region PX2 and the third pixel region PX3 respectively. In other words, the first pixel electrode PE1 and the second pixel electrode PE2 are disposed adjacently to each other along the first direction X. The first pixel electrode PE1, the second pixel electrode PE2 and the third pixel electrode PE3 are disposed and aligned alternately along the first direction X. In addition, the data lines DL may further include at least one third data line DL3 disposed adjacently to the second data line DL2 along the first direction X. The first data line DL1, the second data line DL2 and the third data line DL3 are electrically connected to the display switching devices 210 in the first pixel region PX1, the second pixel region PX2 and the third pixel region PX3 respectively, and data signals may then be transmitted to the display switching devices 210 in the pixel regions PX. It is worth noting that the first pixel region PX1, the second pixel region PX2 and the third pixel region PX3 may be used to present blue light, red light and green light respectively by employing corresponding color filters (not shown) or organic light emitting devices, and the different colors may be mixed to present a full color display effect. The photo detecting unit 220 in this embodiment is disposed in the first pixel region PX1 presenting blue light, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the photo detecting unit 220 may also be disposed in other pixel regions PX or even disposed in all pixel regions PX according to different design considerations.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the display driving circuit in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the display driving circuit 200 with the photo detecting input in this embodiment may further include a plurality of common lines CS extending along the first direction X and disposed parallel to one another. Each of the display switching devices 210 may include a transistor including a gate electrode 211, a source electrode 212 and a drain electrode 213. The gate electrode 211 of the display switching device 210 is connected to one of the gate lines GL, and the source electrode 212 is connected to one of the data lines DL. A coupling capacitor 291 is formed by a common electrode CE with common voltage Vcom, the pixel electrode PE and a material such as a liquid crystal material (not shown) disposed between the common electrode CE and the pixel electrode PE. A storage capacitor 292 is formed by the drain electrode 213, the common line CS and a material such as a dielectric material (not shown) disposed between the drain electrode 213 and the common line CS. Additionally, the photo detecting unit 220 in this embodiment may include a photo sensing TFT including a gate electrode 221, a source electrode 222 and a drain electrode 223. A semiconductor layer such as an amorphous silicon layer, which may generate light beam induced current, in the photo sensing TFT maybe used to detect ambient light and measure intensity of the ambient light. It is worth noting that the gate electrode 221 of the photo detecting unit 220 is connected to one of the gate lines GL, and the drain electrode 223 of the photo detecting unit 220 is also connected to the gate line GL and thus is short-circuited to the gate electrode 221. Additionally, the common lines CS are perpendicular to the readout line RL, and the source electrode 222 of the photo detecting unit 220 is connected to the readout line RL. When an optical signal is detected by the photo detecting unit 220, the photo detecting unit 220 generates a current provided to a calculation integrated circuit (not shown) via the readout line RL. Therefore, the display switching device 210 of the display driving circuit 200 may be used to control the content to be display. In addition, the photo detecting unit 220 serves to detect an input optical signal provided from a light source such as a light pen or torch, or light variations caused by the shadow of an object such as a stylus or fingertip or intensity of reflection generated from the object, and take the input optical signal as an input control signal. Thus, the display driving circuit 200 displays and also allows input control via photo sensing.

The following description will detail the different embodiments of the present invention. To simplify the description, identical components in each of the following embodiments are marked with identical symbols. For making it easier to understand the differences between the embodiments, the following description will detail the dissimilarities among different embodiments and the identical features will not be redundantly described.

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit with photo detecting input according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an equivalent circuit of the display driving circuit in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a display driving circuit 300 with photo detecting input is provided in this embodiment. The display driving circuit 300 includes a plurality of pixel regions PX, a plurality of pixel electrodes PE, a plurality of gate lines GL, a plurality of data lines DL, a plurality of common lines CS, at least one photo detecting unit 320 and at least one readout line RL. The photo detecting unit 320 is disposed in at least one of the pixel regions PX, and the photo detecting unit 320 is electrically connected to one of the gate lines GL. The readout line RL is electrically connected to the photo detecting unit 320 so as to receive and transmit signals generated by the photo detecting unit 320 for calculating photo sensing results.

The difference between the display driving circuit 300 in this embodiment and the display driving circuit in the first preferred embodiment is that the photo detecting unit 320 is electrically connected to one of the common lines CS. More specifically, the photo detecting unit 320 may include a photo sensing transistor T1 and a switch transistor T2. The switch transistor T2 is connected to the photo sensing transistor T1 so as to control the photo sensing transistor T1 to be turned on or turned off. A gate electrode 321 of the photo sensing transistor T1 is connected to one of the common lines CS, and a drain electrode 323 of the photo sensing transistor T1 is also connected to the identical common line CS and thus is short-circuited to the gate electrode 321. In addition, a gate electrode 331 of the switch transistor T2 is connected to one of the gate lines GL, a source electrode 332 of the switch transistor T2 is connected to readout line RL, and a drain electrode 333 of the switch transistor T2 is connected to the source electrode 322 of the photo sensing transistor T1. When the photo sensing transistor T1 detects an input optical signal provided from, for example, a light source such as a light pen or torch, or light variations caused by the shadow of an object such as a stylus or fingertip or intensity of reflection generated from the object, and the gate line GL is selected, which turns on the switch transistor T2, the current generated by the photo sensing transistor T1 will be provided to the readout line RL. Additionally, in this embodiment, the display switching device 210 and the switch transistor T2 may be connected to one identical gate line GL. The display switching device 210 and the switch transistor T2 connected to the same gate line GL may be turned on or turned off together. The photo detecting units 320 connected to one identical readout line RL maybe turned on to detect optical signals at different time points, the position of the optical signal maybe calculated along the second direction Y, and the multiple touch points sensing function may be realized accordingly.

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit 400 with photo detecting input according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the difference between the display driving circuit 400 in this embodiment and the display driving circuit in the first preferred embodiment is that the first pixel electrode PE1 and the second pixel electrode PE2 are disposed between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2. None of the pixel electrodes PE is disposed between the first pixel electrode PE1 and the second pixel electrode PE2, and none of the data lines DL is disposed between the first pixel electrode PE1 and the second pixel electrode PE2. None of the pixel electrodes PE is disposed between the second data line DL2 and the third data line DL3, and none of the data lines DL is disposed between the second data line DL2 and the third data line DL3. The readout line RL is disposed between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2. The first spacing D1 between the first data line DL1 and the readout line RL is preferably wider than or equal to the second spacing D2 between the second data line DL2 and the readout line RL, and the first spacing D1 is smaller than or equal to triple the second spacing D2. Preferably, the first spacing D1 is smaller than or equal to double the second spacing D2, but not limited thereto. The distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is wider than or equal to a quarter of a distance between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2 along the first direction X, and the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is smaller than or equal to three quarters of the distance between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2 along the first direction X. Preferably, the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is wider than or equal to one third of the distance between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2 along the first direction X, and the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL is smaller than or equal to two thirds of the distance between the first data line DL1 and the second data line DL2 along the first direction X, but not limited thereto. It is worth noting that, as shown in FIG. 6, the first spacing D1 may be equal to the second spacing D2 preferably, and the readout line RL is disposed between the first pixel electrode PE1 and the second pixel electrode PE2 preferably so as to equalize the influences between the readout line RL and the two adjacent data lines DL, but not limited thereto. According to the above method of modifying the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL, the distance between the readout line RL and the adjacent data line DL may be increased without lowering the aperture ratio of the pixel region PX because of the position of the readout line RL. The photo detecting performance and the display effect may be enhanced concurrently.

Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit 500 with photo detecting input according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the difference between the display driving circuit 500 in this embodiment and the display driving circuit in the third preferred embodiment is that the photo detecting unit 320 is electrically connected to one of the common lines CS. The detail characteristics of the photo detecting unit 320 have been described in the second preferred embodiment and will not be redundantly described.

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit 600 with photo detecting input according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the difference between the display driving circuit 600 in this embodiment and the display driving circuit in the fourth preferred embodiment is that the common lines CS in this embodiment extend along the second direction Y and are disposed parallel to one another. The photo detecting unit 320 is electrically connected to one of the common lines CS. Additionally, the display driving circuit 600 may further include a plurality of common electrodes CE disposed in the pixel regions PX respectively. Each of the common lines CS is connected to corresponding common electrodes CE so as to provide common signals, and the photo detecting unit 320 is electrically connected to at least one of the common electrodes CE. An in-pane switching (IPS) liquid crystal driving mode may be executed by modifying the shapes of the pixel electrodes PE and the electrical field formed between the common electrode CE and the pixel electrode PE in each pixel region PX, but not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display driving circuit 700 with photo detecting input according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the difference between the display driving circuit 700 in this embodiment and the display driving circuit in the fifth preferred embodiment is that the common lines CS in this embodiment may include a plurality of first common lines CS1 extending along the first direction X and a plurality of second common lines CS2 extending along the second direction Y. Each of the common electrodes CE is connected to the first common lines CS1 and the second common lines CS2 so as to transmit common signals. The photo detecting unit 320 is electrically connected to at least one of the common electrode CE.

To summarize the above descriptions, in the display driving circuit with the photo detecting input of the present invention, the distance between the readout line and the adjacent data line is increased, and the signal interference between the readout line and the data lines may be reduced. The accuracy of judging the signals generated by the photo detecting unit may be enhanced, and the processing loading of the related integrated circuits maybe lowered. Additionally, the allocation of the data lines may be further modified to increase the distance between the readout line and the adjacent data line without lowering the aperture ratio of the pixel region. The photo detecting performance and the display effect maybe enhanced concurrently.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display driving circuit with photo detecting input, comprising: a plurality of pixel regions, arranged in a matrix configuration; a plurality of pixel electrodes, disposed in the pixel regions respectively; a plurality of gate lines, extending along a first direction and disposed parallel to one another; a plurality of data lines, extending along a second direction and disposed parallel to one another, wherein the gate lines cross the data lines, the data lines comprise a first data line and a second data line disposed adjacently to each other, and none of the data lines is disposed between the first data line and the second data line; at least one photo detecting unit, disposed in at least one of the pixel regions, wherein the photo detecting unit is electrically connected to one of the gate lines; and at least one readout line, electrically connected to the photo detecting unit, wherein the readout line is disposed between the first data line and the second data line, a first spacing between the first data line and the readout line is wider than a second spacing between the second data line and the readout line, and the first spacing is smaller than or equal to triple the second spacing.
 2. The display driving circuit of claim 1, wherein the first spacing is smaller than or equal to double the second spacing.
 3. The display driving circuit of claim 1, wherein the pixel regions are defined by the crossed gate lines and data lines, and the readout line at least partially overlaps the pixel electrodes along a vertical projective direction.
 4. The display driving circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of common lines extending along the first direction and disposed parallel to one another, wherein the photo detecting unit is electrically connected to one of the common lines.
 5. The display driving circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of common lines extending along the second direction and disposed parallel to one another, wherein the photo detecting unit is electrically connected to one of the common lines.
 6. The display driving circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of common electrodes disposed in the pixel regions respectively, wherein the photo detecting unit is electrically connected to at least one of the common electrodes.
 7. The display driving circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of display switching devices disposed in the pixel regions respectively, wherein each of the display switching devices is electrically connected to one of the gate lines, one of the data lines and one of the pixel electrodes.
 8. The display driving circuit of claim 1, wherein the pixel electrodes comprising a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode disposed adjacently to each other along the first direction, and none of the pixel electrodes is disposed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode.
 9. The display driving circuit of claim 8, wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are disposed between the first data line and the second data line.
 10. The display driving circuit of claim 9, wherein the readout line is disposed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode.
 11. The display driving circuit of claim 1, wherein the data lines further comprises at least one third data line disposed adjacently to the second data line along the first direction, wherein none of the data lines and none of the pixel electrodes are disposed between the second data line and the third data line.
 12. The display driving circuit of claim 1, wherein the readout line is perpendicular to the gate lines.
 13. The display driving circuit of claim 1, wherein the photo detecting unit comprises a photo sensing device. 